15 3 Chap. 3 3. An Expofiriosr upon the Book of J e s. Vert. r:3 Secondly, As we fhould be fenfible ofthe hand of God at any ume upon us, fo-we may pray for theremoving ofhis hand ; 'Tis no_ a finfull but a gracious a&, to drive wish God by prayer for deliverancee out of trouble. Thirdly, Amin under the Rod may ufe means to get it off,aid free himfelfe from it, even while he is quiet under it. So then,the quietneflè ofmind in our A.-lie-led condition here intended and preffed,is oppofed only,firfi,to fretting and repining.Secondly, to vexing and tt multuating. Thirdly, todilira&ing cares. Fourth- ly, to defponding fears. Fifthly, tokilling fórrows. Sixthly, to uncompofednef a of fpirit for our callings. SeventlTly, to hard thoughtsof God. Eighrhly, to the ufing ofany unlawfull means to help or refcue our felves out of thehand ofevill. And that we maybe preferved from all thefe tirivings againfi God, and unquietneffe of fpirit under any of his faddefi and dark- eft difpenfations, which will certainly runus uponTome of,ifnot all thofe eight molt dangerous rocks, lall mentioned, Let me lay down a few confiderations, why we fhould not firive withGod in fuch amanner :. And ma.fcribe foreprefervatives to keepusat the greatefi difiance frail?it. Firfi, Confider, to (hive with Goddishonours God anddar- kens his glory; for hereby we call his wifdome and goodneife, yea his truth and faithfulneffe to us in quefiion. What can be done more di(honourable to,God then this?God relented it as a great dithonour,that Mofes and Aaron did not fans ifie him(that is,give glory to his name) before the children ofIfrael (Num:1o. i 1.)and therefore told them, rejhall not bring the children of Ifrael into the land which Ibevegiven them.. As if he had fayd, Yehave not honoured me as ye ought in this thing, and therefore I will not honour you in that. But what is it, that Mofes andAaron did not fan&ifieGod in ?. it was.( faith thetext) to-not believing. And what is that (at bell ) but afiriving with God, as to the truth of Lis word and his faithfulneffe in fulfilling it 2: Secondly , Such firiving. with God hinders the exercifeof grace, and flops the worke of the new creature. He that firiveth with God byway of murmuring, can never firive. with God by praying and believing. Thirdly, Such firivings with God are the exercifings of our lufis and corruptions. Then is the time for anger and difcontenr, or
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=